An American military base of Yongson releases toxic chemicals in the drain to the Han River under the direct order of an arrogant U.S. Army coroner. Six years later, a mutant squid monster leaves the water and attacks people on the side of the river.
Where to Watch The Host
- rg9400July 8, 2026The Host has all the hallmarks of being a bad movie: dated CGI, extreme overacting, and cheesy dialogue. Yet, it manages to transcend all of those, becoming much greater than the sum of its parts. From its opening scene set among a dimly lit laboratory and the corrosive steam wafting up from the chemicals being poured down the sink, you can tell that Bong Joon-ho has complete mastery over this movie, creating gorgeous cinematography despite the monster's clear CGI. Though the characters seem initially over the top, it becomes easy to quickly become enamored with this family, each facing their own struggles. Our main character in particular, Gang-du, makes multiple very clear mistakes caused by his carelessness with disastrous consequences, and I still was rooting for him to grow and redeem himself by the end of the movie. His siblings, to a lesser extent, follow similar arcs. Real terror and fear suffuse the movie as it becomes clear that no one is truly safe, and this brings real tension throughout the movie. Finally, this wouldn't be a Bong Joon-ho movie without sociopolitical commentary, and certainly there is a subtext showcasing the ineffectiveness and culpability of both the US and Korean governments. I would say this isn't exactly the central focus of the movie because it's still a very personal story about a family, but it's something that is present throughout. Overall, a thoroughly entertaining movie that is really well-crafted despite some flaws that hopefully do not turn people away.
- ZokkiieJuly 3, 2026This is without a doubt one of the greatest monster movies ever made. It has everything you want from a creature feature, but it also spends time making you care about the people, which makes everything hit a lot harder. Song Kang-ho is an absolute treasure and steals pretty much every scene he's in. The monster still looks great, and the movie does a fantastic job balancing tension, humor, and emotion. The pacing slows down a little in the middle, and it’s not nonstop monster action if that’s what you’re expecting. Instead, it focuses just as much on the family as it does the creature, and that’s honestly what makes it stand out. It’s funny, heartbreaking, exciting, and weird in all the right ways. A monster movie that deserves every bit of praise it gets.
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The Host was released on July 27, 2006.
The Host was directed by Bong Joon Ho.
The Host has a runtime of 2h.
The Host was produced by Choi Yong-bae, Cho Neung-yeon.
An American military base of Yongson releases toxic chemicals in the drain to the Han River under the direct order of an arrogant U.S. Army coroner. Six years later, a mutant squid monster leaves the water and attacks people on the side of the river.
The key characters in The Host are Park Gang-du (Song Kang-ho), Park Hie-bong (Byun Hee-bong), Park Nam-il (Park Hae-il).
The Host is rated R.
The Host is a Horror, Drama, Science Fiction film.
The Host has an audience rating of 7.2 out of 10.
The Host had a budget of $11M.
The Host has made $88.5M at the box office.